Kayak Launch and Lift Apparatus for Dock Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions fail to provide safe and easy access to and from kayaks or canoes when launched from a stationary dock or sea wall, particularly due to uneven water levels and instability, posing safety hazards and requiring physical strength, especially in turbulent conditions.
Innovation Solution
A kayak launch and lift apparatus consisting of loop grab rails, a slidable aluminum ladder, and support cradles with a brake winch system, allowing manual adjustment to varying water levels, ensuring stability and safety for boarding and disembarking, and serving as a storage device to prevent algae and corrosion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a kayak is launched directly from a stationary dock without stabilization devices, then the dock structure remains simple and requires minimal space, but the kayak becomes unstable and poses safety hazards during boarding and disembarking
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a kayak launch apparatus as an intermediary device between the stationary dock and the kayak. This apparatus includes a support structure with a receiving surface that cradles the kayak, providing stabilization during boarding and disembarking operations. The apparatus acts as a mediator that transfers the kayak from the water to the dock in a controlled manner, eliminating the instability that would otherwise exist when launching directly from the dock.
2Ease of operation
If the water level is not at the same level as the dock, then the dock structure remains simple, but it becomes difficult to board and exit the kayak safely
Solution Approach 1:
The kayak launch apparatus incorporates a ladder with rungs that can be adjusted or extended to accommodate varying water levels. The structure includes movable components that allow the apparatus to adapt its height and configuration based on the water level, making it easier for users to board and exit the kayak safely regardless of whether the water level is at dock level or lower.
3Reliability
If turbulent seas conditions occur, then the natural environment remains unchanged, but it becomes most difficult to board or exit a kayak safely
Solution Approach 1:
The launch apparatus provides a stable, cushioned receiving surface that cradles the kayak before it is fully launched or before users board or exit. This pre-stabilization cushioning protects users from the harmful effects of turbulent seas by providing a controlled transition zone between the water and the dock, reducing the impact of wave motion and currents during the critical boarding and disembarking phases.
4Ease of operation
If the water level is distant from the dock surface, then the dock structure remains simple, but the difficulty of safely boarding and exiting the kayak increases
Solution Approach 1:
The launch apparatus is segmented into modular components, including a ladder with multiple rungs and a support structure with adjustable elements. This segmentation allows the apparatus to bridge the gap between the dock and the water level in manageable sections, making disembarking easier while keeping each individual component compact and space-efficient.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe, effortless, and dry access to and from kayaks or canoes on stationary docks or sea walls, accommodating varying water levels and user age, while preventing algae growth and corrosion, and requiring minimal dock space.
Implementation Method 1
a brake winch system, allowing manual adjustment to varying water levels
Data Source
AI summary
The kayak launch and lift apparatus, hence forth referred as the launch and lift, disclosed herein will enable the user to easily board and disembark from a kayak, a canoe or other small watercraft without many of the problems associated with existing devices. The present invention has the advantages of providing a means to stabilize the kayak, while the user is either boarding or disembarking from the kayak from a stationary dock or a sea wall. The launch and lift is made of aluminum and consists of: a pair dock loop grab rails that are bolted to the dock or sea wall, a slidable ladder, a pair of cradles that are attached to the bottom step of the ladder, a pair of bunks to support the kayak on the cradles, an additional outer grab rail that is used when boarding or disembarking from the kayak at the water level, and, a brake winch and stainless steel cable, that is used to raise or lower the kayak from or to the water level. As the water level changes due to changes in the tide or rain fall, the cradle is raised or lowered to accommodate the changes in water levels by means of a brake winch and cable. The brake winch is mounted on a platform attached to the dock grab rail and a stainless steel cable is attached to the spool of the brake winch, traverses two pulley systems welded to the side rail adjacent to the bottom step of the slidable ladder. An additional advantage of the kayak launch and lift is that it also serves as a storage device for the kayak, thus eliminating the need to store the kayak away from the launch site.